Stories you may have missed

Here are some recent stories / commentary from around the web you may have missed –

Bishop accused of incitement to hatred in homily

“A homily delivered at Knock shrine by the Bishop of Raphoe, Philip Boyce, is being investigated by the Director of Public Prosecutions following a formal complaint by a leading humanist who claims the sermon was an incitement to hatred…”

Bath Christian group’s ‘God can heal’ adverts banned

“A Christian group has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets…”

Bishop takes up Catholic Church’s fight with White House over health insurance

“Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse… [Robert] Cunningham said the Syracuse Diocese would defy the federal government — refusing to comply with a mandate that all employers, including church-affiliated organizations, include coverage for birth control in their health insurance plans…”

The President, the Pill, and Religious Liberty in Peril – Albert Mohler

“In actuality, the Obama Administration trampled religious liberty under the feet of the leviathan state, forcing religious employers to do what conscience will not allow. Religious organizations such as schools, colleges, and hospitals will be required to pay for services that they believe to be immoral and disobedient to God…”

The Liberal Enforcers – Mark Steyn

“Modern “liberalism” is strikingly illiberal; the high priests of “tolerance” are increasingly intolerant of even the mildest dissent; and those who profess to “celebrate diversity” coerce ever more ruthlessly a narrow homogeneity. Thus, the Obama administration’s insistence that Catholic institutions must be compelled to provide free contraception, sterilization, and abortifacients…”

Qld Civil partnerships to start next month

“Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser announced yesterday the Governor had approved the state’s Civil Partnership Act to start from February 23. With a 10-day waiting period, the first ceremonies could take place on March 5.”

Ordination reflects “New Sydney”

“In one of the most diverse groups in many years, candidates from IT specialists to a concert pianist, have been ordained for ministry in the Diocese of Sydney. 36 candidates were presented at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday, 4th February, to be ordained as deacons by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen…”

 

Prayer reminder from North West Australia

Members of the Diocese of North West Australia seek prayer for “humility, faithfulness and wisdom” for the DNWA Election Synod later this month.

They will meet in Geraldton to elect a new Bishop on 10th-12th February.

Moore College approved as Self-Accrediting Institution

Moore College has been approved as a self-accrediting institution, which is great news. In announcing it, the considerable work of Alan Höhne in achieving this status is acknowledged. Read more here.

Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn on Gambling Reform

Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn, has circulated this letter to his clergy –

“Australians need a Government that has the courage to pursue hard decisions…”

“Much of the media coverage this week has focused on the politics of the Government’s decision to sever their deal with Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie.

Trust is certainly an important factor in leadership, but we must not forget that the Government’s job is to regulate the gambling industry to limit its impact on families and communities devastated by gambling addiction.  Read more

The 2011 Highlights in Church Legal News

AS Haley, the Anglican Curmudgeon, has posted his 2011 Highlights (or perhaps lowlights) in Church Legal News –

“This blog’s principal focus is tracking the vicissitudes and adventures of the Episcopal Church (USA) in the secular courts, as it engages in an unprecedented campaign of ‘intimidation by lawsuit’ against the dioceses and parishes who have reached the limits of their tolerance with the national Church’s leadership in general, and with its individual bishops in particular. For – make no mistake – it is the collected bishops of the Episcopal Church who are enabling the Presiding Bishop and her personal Chancellor to bring more than seventy-five separate lawsuits across the country…”

– Read it all here.

New book on the way from David Peterson

‘Transformed by God’ – Something to look forward to in April 2012.

Related: Transformed by God: David Peterson interviewed at Oak Hill.

Missed Carols from St Andrew’s? (updated)

If you missed “Carols from St Andrew’s” on Christmas Eve on ABC TV, you can see it on the ABC website.

We’ve heard that the vodcast is not geo-protected, so it can be seen worldwide. You could share the link with your friends overseas.

Tewantin Community Gathering of Care and Support

It would be good to uphold in your prayers Mark Calder and the Anglican Church at Noosa as they seek to help their local community after yesterday’s tragic fire.

(Update: audio and the hand out from the meeting has been posted here.)

God Becomes our Neighbour

Read Archbishop Peter Jensen’s Christmas sermon, delivered at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney –

“The success of the whole human enterprise depends on knowing God. That is the condition for us to have what the Bible calls ‘eternal life’, the fulfilment of all human hopes and aspirations in this life and in the world to come. Getting to know God is the central ambition and task of your life. Do you know God? …”

– read it all at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Queen’s Christmas message 2011

“God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.”

– from Queen Elizabeth II’s 2011 Christmas broadcast. (text here)

Archbishop Peter Jensen’s 2011 Christmas message

Archbishop Peter Jensen has released his Christmas message for 2011.

“we are celebrating the generosity of Jesus, who left his heavenly home to live amongst us and to die for us on a Roman cross to reconcile us to God.”

Here’s the full text.

Christmas is our big annual reminder of the generous love of God. When Jesus was born, it was God himself entering our story to rescue us from sin.

Some people just can’t stand the fact that he is the most important person in history and our whole dating system revolves around his birth. They even want to change the language to write him out.

It’s sad really. It shows that people are frightened of his influence and will do anything to stop us talking about him.

Sad, because Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest inspiration. We need him in our lives and in our history and in our community.

The signs are that the world is in for a difficult time economically. For some countries it is not just a downturn, they will need to grapple with a breakdown in their economic systems. Already, many people go hungry each day. If times get worse, it will be the poor and disadvantaged who suffer most. We are going to need to be generous, and the greatest inspiration to generosity that the world has ever known is Jesus.

When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating the generosity of Jesus, who left his heavenly home to live amongst us and to die for us on a Roman cross to reconcile us to God.

When we are reconciled to God, it affects the whole way we think of others. We reach out in care and forgiveness.

It’s a glad and generous season of the year because our God makes us glad with his generosity.

Dr Peter F Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney,
Christmas, 2011 AD.

Video version here (thanks to SydneyAnglicans.net)

Carols from St Andrew’s Christmas Eve

ABC Television will broadcast the service of Carols from St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney this Christmas Eve.

Watch it around Australia on ABC1 6:00–7:00pm on Saturday 24th December.

December 2011 Church Record online

The December 2011 issue of The Australian Church Record is now available from their website.

Archbishop of Sydney calls on ALP delegates to reject ‘false rhetoric’

Here’s a Statement released by Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen:

Archbishop of Sydney calls on ALP delegates to reject ‘false rhetoric’

The ALP has a proud history of achievement in genuine matters of equality, so it is disappointing to see it divided over the false rhetoric of ‘equality’ surrounding same-sex marriage.

The present law defining marriage is not a denial of rights. Issues of inequity regarding the financial and legal status of same-sex relationships have already been addressed by the Parliament and I have supported these changes.

There is no doubt the ALP conference has a difficult decision and this is a painful subject for many, but it is incumbent on delegates to consider the long-term consequences.

Redefining marriage will have unintended and unwelcome consequences for the meaning of parenthood, our openness to other forms of marriage, sex education and our commitment to religious freedom.

Dr Peter F Jensen
Archbishop of Sydney
2/12/2011.

(Source: SydneyAnglicans.net)

At the Centre of the Storm — accounting for Biblical Theology in the 21st Century

Mark Thompson shares news of a new MA course at Moore College, starting in 2012.

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